Johann Zarco approaches the last Grand Prix of the season as the best Honda rider, and with growing confidence in the bike and the project. The Frenchman hopes to play for the top-10 before turning the page and focusing on 2025.
The final in Barcelona: “That’s three Grands Prix at home this year, one at Le Mans and two in Barcelona! It's actually pretty cool to come here to make this comparison with the month of June. We still feel that we have moved up in the rankings. And this evolution, compared to June, where you can play for the top 10 as I was able to do in the Asian races, these are races which have done me a lot of good. Being in what I announced at the start of the year feels good, it gives credibility, it has done me a lot of good. »
“It's a bit of a strange feeling coming home after two months of filming overseas. It looks like the season is over, but we still have to refocus to perform here. So I see that I need time to get back into it. The fact that it's a little cooler, all that, I still have a hard time telling myself that that's it, tomorrow it starts again. »
Focus on the Grand Prix before thinking about the test: “I have more expectations from this weekend, to perform. Do what we would like, that is to say play for the top-10. Qualifying directly in Q2 would be the best. These are the small objectives for the weekend, before those for Tuesday. »
“For the test, it will be a much easier Tuesday than last year's Tuesday in Valencia, where I changed bikes. Where we will say that I was taking my real step backwards. There, it won't be the same story. If the weather is good, the day will be pleasant. »
Nakagami alongside Chantra, focuses on development: “I do my job as a driver, I give my feelings to the engineers. Taka will still have the role of training Chantra as best as possible, supporting him during the tests to help him understand all the specificities of a MotoGP. But that's not my role, and Taka is very well positioned like that. »
Martin in possibility of being titled with Ducati despite being in a satellite team: “It fully corresponds to the Dall’Igna spirit. He has always served Pramac well, already last year, and this year to the fullest. I think it would be great for Pramac to have the drivers' title. We won the team title last year. They can have the drivers' title, and for Jorge, that would really be the best before changing brands. »
The relationship with Honda after the Suzuka 8 Hours: “I don't think I had any special contacts there, but the 8 Hours was a great step in building trust with the Japanese because I joined a 100% Japanese team. We'll say that I adapted a little more to them and I think they appreciated that a lot. Because casually, in a MotoGP team, all my comments are made to Europeans who then discuss with the Japanese. There, it was me live with the Japanese. I think they appreciated that I did it well. »
Best Honda rider this season: “On the overseas tour, to have made a difference compared to the other riders and to have started to follow the other bikes, to fight with the other bikes, there too, the confidence begins to grow. It may take time, but once it is established, this confidence is very solid. So I'm happy with the overall vision of the decisions taken. And to see that things are progressing. »
